Hair curler



June 13, 1939. A. UNDEN 2,162,262

HAIR CURL-ER Filed Dec. 28, 1937 INVENTOR 5 ATTORNEYS Patented June 13,1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved device for applying a clamping orbobby pin such as is used in curling hair. I am aware that a number ofsuch devices have heretofore been known, but all of them of which I amaware are difficult to handle to secure the desired result. In the useof the preferred form of my device, the hair is wound on a portion of atubular member and the bobby pin is clamped thereon by merely sliding asleeve along the tubular member. The hair, clamped in the bobby pin, maythen be easily removed from the tubular member.

In general, the object of my invention is to facilitate the clamping ofhair in a bobby pin. Specific objects include the construction of adevice which will easily and positively accomplish the said generalobject and which can be manufactured economically.

The preferred form of my invention is described in the followingspecification and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l isa perspective View of the tubular portion thereof;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the sleeve and the attached trough-likemember;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the sleeve and trough-like member taken onthe line 'a--a of Fig. 4,the bobby pin being shown in place;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the sleeve, the trough-like member beingshown in section;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the sleeve taken on the line b--b of Fig.3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figs. 6 and '7 are fragmentary perspective views of the device with thesleeve at different positions on the tubular member;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the type of bobby pin preferably used inconnection with my device; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of my device, showing themanner inwhich the bobby pin is opened.

Referring to the drawing, the member I is composed of a hollow tube oflight, thin material which is preferably non-tarnishable and rust-proof(such as chromium or aluminum). The tube is opened up or slottedlongitudina1ly, the slot running parallel with the axis of the tube fora distance somewhat less than half the length of the tube (as shown at2); then diagonally for a short distance (as shown at 3) and then againparallel with the axis of the tube (as shown at 4). The slot is open atthe end 2 but may or may not be open at the opposite end, 4, as desiredand depending upon the particular construction of other parts of thedevice. Affixed to the outside of the tube, at a position adjacent theportion 2 of the slot, near the place where the latter turns diagonallyand in line with the portion 4 of the slot, is a stud having a beveledportion and a shoulder, the functions of which will be described later.

The member which is designed to cooperate with the tubular portion of mydevice is shown, in its preferred form, in Fig. 2 and consists of asleeve 6 adapted to surround and slide along the tube. Carried by thesleeve is a trough-like member I, one end of which is aifixed to theinside of the sleeve but spaced therefrom,as by the support 8. In theinner side of one face of the sleeve, a notch or recess 9 may beprovided, the recess, when present, being so placed that it cooperateswith the inner end of the member I and the support 8 to provide asocket.

In the preferred construction, the sleeve 6 is Q slidably mounted onthat portion of thetubular member between the stud 5 and the end of thetube marked it in Fig. 1. After the sleeve has been placed on the tubeit may be permanently retained thereon, as by flaring the end ll] of thetube (not shown) or'otherwise.

In use, the sleeve (slidably mounted on the tube as aforesaid) is placedon the tube adjacent its end l0. In that position the trough-like member1 lies within the tubular member be- 30 IUI neath the portion 4 of theslot and parallel with the axis of the tube; in this position, themember 1 may be long enough to extend slightly under the tube itself atthe place where the slot bends. A bobby pin ll of a well-known type 3(illustrated in Fig. 8) is placed in the member 1 with'its head or loopend [2 in the socket formedbetween the indentation 9, the inner end ofthe member 1, and the support 8. The sleeve 6 is then moved inward alongthe tubular member. In view of the spread between the ends of the twolegs of the bobby pin, the lower, flat side thereof will slide under thetubular member and the upper, crimped side thereof will slide over theoutside of the tubular member. As the sleeve 6 is moved furtherinwardly, the two legs of the bobby pin will be spread apart by thebeveled surface l3 of the stud 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 9.

The hair to be curled is wound around the tuis wound. When the sleeveapproaches the bend in the slot, the bobby pin has been opened as shownin Fig. 6, and in greater detail in Fig. 9. The sleeve 6 is then movedfurther along the slot and around the bend 3 therein, until it takes theposition shown in Fig. 7 at the end of the portion 2 of the slot. alongthe bent portion 3 of the slot, the outer leg of the bobby pin slidesalong the beveled surface l3 of the stud 5 and eventually slides off thestud, dropping down over the hair to clamp it between the two legs ofthe bobby pin,as indicated in Fig. 7. This completes the operation ofclamping the hair in the bobby pin, and the latter may then be drawn,with the hair clamped therein, along the slot and out of the end 2 ofthe slot.

The sleeve and trough-like member may then be moved back again to theoriginal position adjacent the end IE! of the tubular member and, ifdesired, the operation may be repeated with a new bobby pin.

The stud 5 is provided with a shoulder 14 which limits the movement ofthe sleeve 6 and associated trough-like member in one direction. Theshoulder also prevents the sleeve from becoming wedged on the bevelledportion [3 of the stud.

To facilitate the operation of the device, frictional engaging means maybe supplied to hold the sleeve in desired positions. Thus, a socket [5may be provided on the inner surface of the sleeve 6. To cooperate withthis socket, the tubular member I is provided with two balls IS, IS,held in position by associated springs I1, IT, or by other suitablemeans. Circular apertures are provided in the tubular member I, theapertures being smaller in diameter than the balls l6, l6 so that thelatter normally partially project outwardly through the apertures. Theball I6 is so placed as to engage the socket I5 of the sleeve when thelatter is in position adjacent the end Ill of the tubular member,i. e.,in position for inserting the bobby pin. The ball l6 engages the socketl5 at the other end of the travel of the sleeve,--i. e., when it isadjacent the stud 5, and in the position at which the bobby pin (withthe hair clamped therein) is to be removed from the device. In thismanner, the sleeve is held inthe desired position by engagement of theproper ball, I6 or l6, and the socket !5, the former being pressed intothe latter by the associated spring, I! or H. Due to the spring,however, comparatively slight longitudinal pressure on the sleeve willdisengage the ball from the socket and make it possible to move thesleeve to any desired position.

It may also be desirable to taper somewhat the end of the tubular memberupon which the hair is wound; this will facilitate removal of theclamped hair from the tubular member.

It will be understood that various modifications in the structure andarrangement of my device may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention, and I desire to secure protection for all suchmodifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the kind described. comprising in combination a tubularmember having a slot therein extending inwardly from one end thereof; asleeve slidably mounted on the tubular member and carrying a trough-likemember extending therefrom within the tubular member in a directiontowards the open end of the slot As the sleeve passesand adapted toreceive a bobby pin; means" for opening the legs of the bobby pin, asthe sleeve is moved towards the open end of the slot, to receive hairthat is wound around the tubular member; and means for disengaging thehobby pin from said opening means when the sleeve reaches apredetermined position on the tubular member.

2. A device of the kind described, comprising in combination a tubularmember having a slot therein extending inwardly from one end thereof; asleeve slidably mounted on the tubular member and carrying a trough-likemember extending therefrom within the tubular member in a directiontowards the open end of the slot and adapted to receive a bobby pin; asocket associated with the sleeve and adapted to receive the looped endof the bobby pin; means for opening the legs of the bobby pin, as thesleeve is moved towards the open end of the slot, to receive hair thatis wound around the tubular member; and means for disengaging the bobbypin from said opening means when the sleeve reaches a predeterminedposition on the tubular member.

3. A device of the kind described, comprising in combination a tubularmember having a slot therein extending inwardly from one end thereof; amember slidably mounted beneath the slot in the tubular member andadapted to carry a bobby pin; means associated with the tubular memberfor opening the legs of the bobby pin as the slidable member movestowards the open end of the slot; and means for disengaging the bobbypin from said opening means when it reaches a predetermined position.

4. A device of the kind described, comprising in combination a tubularmember; a slot therein extending inwardly from one end thereof, the slothaving offset portions parallel with the axis of the tubular member,such portions being joined by a diagonal portion; a sleeve slidablymounted on the tubular member; a trough-like member within the tubularmember and carried by the sleeve, and a beveled stud aflixed to theoutside of the tubular member and located adjacent the slot.

5. A device of the kind described, comprising in combination a tubularmember; a slot therein extending inwardly from one end thereof, the slothaving offset portions parallel with the axis of the tubular member,such portions being joined by a diagonal portion; a beveled stud affixedto the outside of the tubular member adjacent one straight portion ofthe slot and in line With the other straight portion; a member slidablymounted within the tubular member and adapted to carry a bobby pin insuch position that one leg thereof is below and the other above thesurface of the tubular member; and means associated with the slidablemember and engaging the slot.

6. A device of the kind described, comprising in combination a tubularmember; a slot therein extending inwardly from one end thereof, the slothaving offset portions parallel with the axis of the tubular member,such portions being joined by a diagonal portion; a beveled stud affixedto the outsideof the tubular member adjacent one straight portion of theslot and in line with the other straight portion; a sleeve slidablymounted on the tubular member; means for limiting the travel of thesleeve on the tubular member; and a member carried by the sleeveparallel to the axis of the tubular member, extending towards the openend of the slot and adapted to carry a bobby pin in such position thatone leg thereof is below and the other above the surface of the tubularmember. '7. A device of the kind described, comprising in combination atubular member; a slot therein extending inwardly from one end thereof,the slot having offset portions parallel with the axis of the tubularmember, such portions being joined by a diagonal portion; a beveled studaffixed to the outside of the tubular member adjacent one straightportion of the slot and in line with the other straight portion; asleeve slidably mounted on the tubular member; means for limiting thetravel of the sleeve on the tubular member; a member carried by thesleeve parallel to the axis of the tubular member, extending towards theopen end of the slot and adapted to carry a bobby pin in such positionthat one leg thereof is below and the other above the surface of thetubular member; and frictional means engaging the sleeve atpredetermined positions.

8. A device of the kind described, comprising in combination a tubularmember provided with a slot extending inwardly from one end thereof, oneportion of the slot being offset with respect to another portion; asleeve slidably mounted on the tubular member and carrying a trough-likemember adapted to receive a bobby pin; a member carried by the sleeveand engaging said slot; and means carried by the tubular member A toopen the bobby pin under tension as the sleeve is moved inwardly, saidopening means being operative When said slot-engaging member engages oneportion of the slot and being inoperative when said slot-engaging memberengages the other portion of the slot.

9. A device of the kind described composed of a tubular member, all ofthe parts of which are rigidly connected together, and a sleeve member,all of the parts of which are rigidly connected together; said tubularmember being provided with a slot having offset portions parallel withthe axis of the tubular member, said tubular member also carrying abeveled stud; and said sleeve member being provided with means forcarrying a bobby pin and also with means engaging the slot in thetubular member.

16. A device according to claim 9 wherein the beveled stud on thetubular member is aflixed to the outer surface thereof and is in linewith one axial portion of the slot therein.

11. A device according to claim 9 wherein the beveled stud on thetubular member is affixed to the outer surface thereof and is in linewith one axial portion of the slot therein, and wherein the means forcarrying the bobby pin is adapted to carry the pin in such position thatone leg thereof is below and the other above the surface of the tubularmember.

GAD A. LAMBERT LINDEN.

